Malachi stood, and instead of pulling him back down like he wanted to, Arthur leaned away and out of the man's way.  He stayed knelt on the floor, even when Malachi went to the couch and collected his clothes.

Was this it, then?  This was it?

"No," Arthur said, half turning his head towards Malachi.  "I don't want you to say no to me.  I won't ask you to do something like that again."

Another lie, maybe, but maybe it wasn't.  Was Malachi really going to leave?  No fight, no yelling?  No more blood?  No nothing?

"Where are you going?"  Are you leaving me?  Are you going to come back?  "Please, I - I am sorry, Malachi."